Putting an end to jobs for mates in Australian politics

by Danielle Wood, Kate Griffiths, Anika Stobart, Kat Clay

18.07.2022 Podcast
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Jobs for mates – it’s frustrating when it happens in everyday life. Even more so when it happens at the highest levels of politics. A plum job as Trade Commissioner for a former Deputy Premier. A spot on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a former staffer.

State and federal governments make hundreds of appointments each year to public boards and tribunals – and many of them go to people with political connections.

While it may seem harmless – after all, ‘everyone does it’ – it can have pervasive consequences for Australia’s democracy.

Listen to Danielle Wood, CEO, Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Anika Stobart, Associate, and Kat Clay, Head of Digital Communications, discuss Grattan’s latest report New politics: A better process for public appointments.

Kate Griffiths
Chief of Staff and Budgets and Government Deputy Program Director
Kate Griffiths is Grattan’s Chief of Staff and the Deputy Program Director of the Budgets and Government Program. Kate completed her Masters in Science at the University of Oxford as a John Monash Scholar and holds an Honours degree in Science from the Australian National University.

Anika Stobart
Senior Associate
Anika Stobart is a Senior Associate at Grattan Institute. She advocates for evidence-based reform on health, economic, and education issues, and has experience working in government and not-for-profit organisations.

Kat Clay
Head of Digital Communications
Kat Clay is the Head of Digital Communications at Grattan Institute. She has more than a decade of experience in digital content and creative services across the non-profit and government sectors.

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Danielle Wood – CEO

Grattan CEO Danielle Wood sitting on orange couch